Communicable disease Flashcards
What is a communicable disease?
A disease that is caused by a pathogen and can spread
What is a Pathogen?
A microorganism that causes disease
Is Bacteria a prokaryote or a eukaryote?
Prokaryote
How does Bacteria cause disease?
-they divide rapidly and clone themselves through binary fission.
-they colonise an area and release toxins
What do the toxins that the bacteria release do?
they break down cell membranes and damage cells, tissue and organs
what are some examples of a bacterial disease?
Gonorrhoea and Salmonella
Are Viruses a prokaryote or a eukaryote?
Prokaryote
How do Viruses cause disease?
Viruses hijack the cells DNA and alter the genetic code, changing the protein synthesis mechanism
How does a virus hijacking the cell affect it?
-allows the virus to change what proteins the cell produces.
-making more viral proteins creates new viruses meaning more cells are invaded
What do viruses need to be able to replicate?
a host cell
2 examples of a host cell.
human cell
plant cell
Give four examples of a virus.
any of:
-common cold
-influenza
-Covid-19
-HIV
-Measles
-Tobacco Mosaic disease
Is fungi/fungus a prokaryote or a eukaryote?
they are very complex eukaryotic organisms
How do fungi cause disease?
They can invade cells and grow in and block blood vessels
What does Fungi cause?
skin inflammation and irritation
what are some examples of fungal diseases?
Athletes foot
Rose Black spot
Is a Protist a prokaryote or a eukaryote?
eukaryote
what type of protist causes disease?
protozoa
How do protozoa cause disease?
-when they get inside of a human body they will use it to replicate and will feed on it.
-they will absorb small soluble molecules instead of the body.
- they use it for respiration, taking energy away from the host.
What is an example of a protist disease?
malaria
How can pathogens be spread? ( 3 ways)
can be spread by direct contact, by water or by air
What type of pathogen is measles?
A Virus
What are the symptoms of Measles?
fever
cough
runny nose
a red skin rash
What is the most extreme case of Measles?
fatality
How is Measles spread?
spread by inhalation of droplets from sneezes and coughs of an infected person
How is Measles controlled?
by vaccinating young children against it
What type of Pathogen is HIV?
virus
What the symptoms of HIV?
flu-like symptoms
What is HIV controlled with?
Antiretroviral drugs
What happens in the late stages of HIV?
it develops into AIDS
What happens when a person has AIDS?
the body’s immune system becomes so badly damaged it can no linger deal with other infections and cancers.
How is HIV spread?
it is spread by sexual contact or the exchange of bodily fluids such as blood.
How can bodily fluids be exchanged?
when drug users share needles
What type of disease is Salmonella?
bacteria
What are symptoms of Salmonella?
Fever, abdominal
cramps, vomiting and diarrhoea
what is done to control the spread of salmonella?
poultry are vaccinated against Salmonella to control the spread.
How is salmonella spread?
by bacteria ingested in food, or on food prepared in unhygienic conditions
What type of disease is Gonorrhoea?
bacterial
What the symptoms of Gonorrhoea?
a thick yellow or green discharge from the vagina or penis and pain on urinating
What is usually used to treat Gonorrhoea? and what was the problem with it?
it was easily treated with the
antibiotic penicillin until many resistant strains of gonorrhoea appeared
How is Gonorrhoea spread?
by sexual contact
How is Gonorrhoea controlled?
controlled by treatment with antibiotics or the use of a barrier method of contraception such as a condom
